Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-30

or two, in anticipation of row I;
and every one ceased to fidget and
paid close attention 10 Lord Usher; to
hear him with his blandest and most
urbane OF smiles, explaining how it
was the great privilege of that court TO
listen TO Mr.. Twistleton, and what a
high value they set upon that priv
lege. and how il was quite inconceiva-
bic to him Cord Usher that he (Alr.
Twistleton) could imagine for mo-
ment that this court or any other court
should wish him to sit down. Whereupon
Twistleton mumured that his Lord
ship was very good, meaning thereby
that he should like 10 be with his Lord
ship in small room where he could
give him bit OF his mind. Then the
case proceeded quite regularly until
| Twistlcton handed Lord Usher lot OF
papers to explain his case and Lord
Usher coming to one, said, with d kaOw-
ing side glance Mt Smugg, L. j., that,
from the handwriting, itmust be notr
of Mr.. Twistlcton's in another case, as
he did not know that any one of the
name of Charles Co!stOn was "a party to
this case And what would have hap
pened then ] don't know; only the
court rose for lunch.
| heard two or three people say that
day that "Twistleton, poor fellow, was
doing more work than he ought to y;
that "Twistleton was n clever fellow,
but he could not afford to burn the
candle at both ends" Indeed, Twistle-
tons strange conduct in Buncombe
Cersus Badger was the general topic OF
conversation in the robing-roOm.
When Twistleton came out of court |
had the greatest difficulty to help him
from rushing down to Norfolk by the
night train. He was sure it was true
he believed in the message. | Gained
him down. and he had dinner together
at my club. He had to continue his
speech in the morning | tried TO coach
him in Buncombc Uersus Badger, but il
was of no avail | do not think he
even knew for which side he was APP
pearing
We agreed that we would sit up in
watches and so keep our eyes on the
typewriter all night There was a sofa
in the recess of the window, and Twis-
Teton sent me to bed and placed him
self on this. | babe him goodnight,
and took his bed for the first half of
the night. About two O'Clock in the
morning ] awoke and went to Twistle-
ton. He was wide awake, reading some
papers, on the sofa.
{" Have you seen anything? ?" asked.
Nothing whatever" he replied
"Nor heard anything ?"
"NOt a sound"
We took the lamp to the typewriter
and opened it. There was the sheet of
paper as he always left it, untouched.
Twistleton locked it up again and took
the key.
"Put it under your pillow
81 will, he replied; "it's very good
of you to sit up like this"
Its nothing at all, ! assure you, |
answered.
keep strict watch, won't you?"
81 promise you, said.
TwistletOn shook me by the hand,
with emotion, and went out he looked
very i'll and wretched, thought, and
was sorry for him. Was it a ghosts
message or what that was making his
life burden to him? Should I solve
the mystery tonight?
| waited about an hour and half,
The dawn came peeping through
the painted shutters and made the
lamp look dim. l was almost DOING
in fact had shut my eyes and lost con
seriousness for perhaps a minute, per
haps more. A sharp, clicking sound
awoke me. 1t was the typewriter.
There, seated on a chair in front of it,
playing nimbly on the queer instrl-
ment, was a white, misty figure. 1t
had finished. 1t closed the cover down
and turned the key. 1t wheeled round
to the door, and saw the face and
whiskers ] knew 50 well ii was Twis-
Teton himself.
Ny first impulse was to wake him,
but had heard that it was dangerous
to wake persons walking in their sleep.
He wanted all the sleep he could get, so
I decided to let him alone, to walk down
tony own chambers, and get some more
rest myself. When | got ont into Old
Square / could not help roaring with
laughter. 1t was too funny. The idea of
old Twistleton writing messages to him
self on the typewriter, and being fright
ened out of his wits by them. What n
story to tell against him NOOne would
believe tit was too good to be true.
| awoke little late next morning,
but went straight down to Old Square
before breakfast Alas / was too late.
There was Foss in misery over a hasty
scrawl of Twistleton's. He had gone to
Barndore by the early train Foss was
TO make any excuse he thought fit to
Writson and Clame. There was the
TYPEWRITER shattered into a thousand
pieces. its intricate machinery n shape
less chaos. l shuddered to think what
would happen if there was anything be-
tween Charley COlston and Mrs. Twis-
Teton.
In town every one was asking what
had become of TwistletOn. The rumor
went round the law courts that he was
insane. maintained discreet silence.
Mr.. Clame was almost crying as Slo-
Roach, murmuring something about
"bad news and his learned leader,
rose to continue Twistleton's opening.
Lord Usher, unrestrained 10y the pres
ence of Twistleton, made the Court OF
| Appeal place of fiery torment to
that eminent elderly junior, Mr..
Slokoach. Bustle, Q. c., for Badger,
was not even called upon to reply
Buncombe and Another were dismissed,
with costs.
The early train stopped, as / knew,
at every station, forty in number.
could imagine poor Twistleton's state
of mind as he pottered along in slow
train to Barndore. He arrived at the
house about breakfast-time-I have the
story from Grimbleton, who was there
be came into the breakfast room, and
his appearance elected q shout Of sur
prise.
"What has become of BuncombC
rersus Badger?" cried Lord Barndore
"Settled, eh?"
"Not that / know Of" muttereC
Twistleton, sulkily, and then, looking